Here is a powerpoint about what we covered in Biology 1st Semester at Sparks High. Please write 5 questions in your comp books. I will extend the powerpoint to answer the questions. Thank you!

1. Biology
Semester 1

2. Interdependent
Relationships in Ecosystems
• HS-LS2-1 Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of
factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.
• HS-LS2-2 Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on
evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.
• HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in
ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions,
but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
• HS-LS2-7Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on
the environment and biodiversity.
• HS-LS2-8 Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’
chances to survive and reproduce.
• HS-LS4-6 Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human
activity on biodiversity.

3. Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

4. Biodiversity
• the variety of life in the world or in a
particular habitat or ecosystem.

7. Ecological Relationships
• Predation
• Competition
• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism

8. Ecological Relationships
• It is important to understand how organisms are in
relationship with one another so that we can predict how
a change in one population will affect the other.

9. Carrying Capacity
• Carrying capacity, the average population density or population size of a
species below which its numbers tend to increase and above which its
numbers tend to decrease because of shortages of resources. The
carrying capacity is different for each species in a habitat because of that
species’ particular food, shelter, and social requirements.

10. At first the population grows rapidly due to abundant resources.
Then, it overshoots the carrying capacity and some individuals die due to
lack of resources. Finally, the population fluctuates around the carrying
capacity as long as the environment stays stable.

11. Carrying Capacity can change if the environment changes.

13. Invasive Species
• An invasive species is an organism that causes ecological or
economic harm in a new environment where it is not native.
Invasive species can harm both the natural resources in an
ecosystem as well as threaten human use of these
resources.
• How do invasive species affect biodiversity?
• How do invasive species affect the carrying capacity of
other organisms?
• We caused the problem of invasive species, what can we
do to solve the problem and prevent future problems?

15. Migration
• Some animals need to migrate
in order to find food, shelter,
water and mates.
• Problem: Humans have
constructed highways that
intersect migration routes.
Animals are killed. People’s
cars are damaged.
• Solution: Construct wildlife
bridges and tunnels so that
wildlife can migrate
unobstructed.

16. What are some other ecological
problems created by human impact?
• colony collapse disorder
• climate change
• deforestation
• ocean acidification
• ocean dead zones
• overfishing
• pollution
• extinction

17. What are some possible
solutions to these problems?
• colony collapse disorder
• climate change
• deforestation
• ocean acidification
• ocean dead zones
• overfishing
• pollution
• extinction

18. Matter and Energy in
Organisms and Ecosystems
• HS-LS1-5 Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy
into stored chemical energy.
• HS-LS1-6 Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other
elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.
• HS-LS2-3Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling
of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
• HS-LS2-4 Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of
matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.
• HS-LS2-5 Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular
respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere,
hydrosphere, and geosphere.

19. Photosynthesis

20. Photosynthesis

21. Cellular Respiration

22. Photosynthesis &
Cellular Respiration

23. Anaerobic Respiration
• Fermentation
• Lactic Acid:

24. Phytoplankton (algae) &
Zooplankton (brine shrimp)
• All other life in the ocean
needs phytoplankton to
survive. Phytoplankton get
their energy directly from
the sun using
photosynthesis, just like
plants. Zooplankton then
feed on phytoplankton,
and are then eaten by
larger zooplankton, fish,
larger fish, and so on.
Plankton are at the base
of a complex aquatic food
web.

25. Carbon Cycle
• the series of processes by which carbon
compounds are interconverted in the
environment, involving the incorporation of
carbon dioxide into living tissue by
photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere
through respiration, the decay of dead
organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

27. What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?
reduce, recycle, reuse, local, organic, solar wind & bioenergy, plant trees, eat sustainably,
bike, walk, run, know what you’re buying, what it’s made of and where it’s from